Alkmaar fire coach Slot after he is linked to another job

His dismissal comes a day after Dutch media reported he was the hot favourite to take over from Dick Advocaat at Feyenoord for the next campaign.

“As a club we have elected for an immediate departure. At AZ we want a head coach who is fully focused on AZ,” said their technical director Max Huiberts in a club statement.

Feyenoord coach Advocaat, 73, this week said it would be his last term in charge after which the Dutch press reported Slot was the Rotterdam club’s choice to take over for the 2021-22 campaign.

AZ said they had approached Slot after reading the reports and then made their decision.

The 42-year-old Slot took AZ level on points at the top of the Eredivisie table last season when the COVID-19 crisis saw the league suspended and then the rest of the season called off.